nurse_00100110

Dear Lizzy, I truly understand how you feel. I also failed the NCLEX-RN when I took it. I waited about 30 days after I graduated to take my exam, Some people in my class only waited a week and they passed with the minimum amount of questions (they were extremely smart and I was happy for them that they had passed). I took ALL the questions and that took me little over 3 hours to complete. I had a gut feeling that I failed it and when I got the NCLEX letter, I was not surprised. It still hurt bad. I did ALL the Kaplan Tests and quizzes and readiness tests. I sat everyday for hours on end at the kitchen table. I did feel like a failure. I do like Kaplan and how they taught to avoid some pitfalls e.g. Dont answer with "Why". And I still have never asked my patient "why" in any of my questions / nursing practice because I truly believe in the rational Kaplan provides. I believe I failed, because I was trying to use a brute force method of answering as many questions as possible to learn the test. That strategy might work for some, but it failed me. Everybody is going to be different on what works for them. What worked for me is changing my approach on how I study and where I study. I mostly Saunders as my study resource, made my own quizzes via quizlet from the Saunders material, and took practice exams / quizzes at my local library. My local library has computers where you can reserve a computer, so I had to get up in the morning and drive and took a practice exam / quizzes there. I tried to make it realistic as if I was actually driving to take the NCLEX (because I have really bad test anxiety) and get out of my comfort zone of the kitchen table. I had to understand that the NCLEX-RN is a safety exam and that they want to know that you will practice safely as a nurse. I did not use the brute force method of taking as many questions as possible to solely rely on, I did not use Kaplan as nearly as much because I had already done it. I have not tried UWorld or any other except for Saunders. The advice I got from my nursing instructors after I failed the NCLEX-RN, schedule to take it as soon as possible and believe. I made my 2nd attempt 45 days later and took 75 questions. I felt nervously OK when my test ended. I didn't feel like celebrating or telling anyone that I only took 75 questions, I did not want to talk to anyone at all - It was a hold my breath until I got my results sort of deal. I did not use the whole credit-card retry attempt to see if I had passed. I just waited for my results. My advice, is similar, schedule to take it as soon as possible, put your social life on complete and utter hold (even if that means no more boyfriend for a month or two), believe that this exam will be harder than any other exam in your entire life, but most important, trust and believe in yourself.

Ac4414, First off, Nursing school is difficult. From reading your posts, you did not do anything wrong that can not be fixed. It would probably be in your best interest to retake A&P 1 and get that grade back up, take it from another school or online, (if its online make sure they provide a Letter grade). Second, dont listen to Elkpark because he or she doesnt seem to have a clue what they are talking about. Every nursing program will have their own requirements and not all nursing programs are alike - because you failed Pharm and that constituted you getting kicked out of their nursing program, does not mean it is the same for thing for different nursing program. A great nursing program will understand this and will look at you as a person, and not solely on a letter grade when you apply and for those programs that dont, you want to have avoided in the first place. If you area is really competitive to get into nursing school, then try moving to an area where it is less competitive (even if it is moving out of state), I would look into ADN programs and avoid the 4 year university programs because 1) they are extremely expensive, 2) they will try to weed people out, 3) ADN cheaper and shorter (you can always get your BSN online). If you truly want to become a nurse, then you will become a nurse. I was very fortunate that ALL my instructors were (and still are) amazing.

Nursing_1011, You are more than enough. Stay Strong.

What does matter is the quality of the Nursing instructors. I am and always will be very grateful and thankful to ALL my nursing instructors / advisors.

Advice I would give, Go for ADN if you want to save money. Try to get a school that offers LPN for the first year (Take the NCLEX-PN) that way, if you fail RN year (2nd year), you have at least the LPN to fall back to work until you complete the RN portion. If you decided and complete the ADN route, then go for BSN Online. There are affordable options out there and can save you THOUSANDS.